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Earlier this year, Mount Carmel introduced its newest club: the Mount Carmel Gay-Straight Alliance (MCGSA). According to the MCGSA, founded by juniors Patrick McKay and Luke Ehrenstrom and moderated by Mr. Andrew Sobucki, they are the first of its kind at any Catholic school in the city of Chicago. Last Thursday, the club made its first donation to Center on Halsted, the largest LGBT community center in the Midwest.

The purpose of the MCGSA is fairly simple: to offer a place for all students to gather and talk without feeling judged. McKay explained, “We started the club to simply make Mount Carmel a better place for all people, regardless of sexuality or race.”

Ehrenstrom added that he “wanted to ensure that all students feel comfortable as part of our brotherhood at the school.”

Throughout the year, in addition to having weekly gatherings, the club has been selling wristbands and sponsoring bake sales to raise money for homeless LGBT youth. On Thursday, May 25, McKay and Ehrenstrom traveled to Center on Halsted to donate what the club had raised, which amounted to around $500.

In addition to raising donations, McKay also noted how the wristbands and the signs promoting club gatherings “remind students to be open-hearted and less judgmental of others.”

Ehrenstrom explained the choice of Center on Halsted as a recipient for those funds. “Such a high percentage of the homeless youth are part of the LGBT community. We wanted to make sure our money went toward improving the lives of homeless LGBT youth in our city.”